How much would a showroom paint jobs cost for a 1965 Ford Mustang if I did all the prep work first?

How much would a showroom paint jobs cost for a 1965 Ford Mustang if I did all the prep work first? - 1

Call 3 different auto body shops and get quotes

"Showroom" paint on a mass-produced car from the 1960s isn't very high quality. It'll most likely be a single stage enamel similar to tractor implement paint.

The prep work is, of course, the biggest part of any paint job. If you can do that much of it, you'll likely come out ahead buying paint from Eastwood, and shooting it yourself. All the rust repair, filler and sanding are where the difficulty is on a paint job.

Paint finishes from the 60s were not that good looking. Most had an eggshell appearance. If you want a modern paint job expect to pay at least $1,000 if you do the prep work yourself.

If you can do all the prep work yourself then you may consider doing the whole job yourself. At my shop a top quality paint job for a 65 Mustang with you doing all the prep work would be about $1500 also there would be no warranty as we didn't do the prep work so you may see flaws in your new paint because you didn't do as good of a prep job as you thought. I have had to redo peoples cars because of them doing the prep work and not being satisfied with the end product

Couple thousand I'd do it yourself

They will BALK at spraying over your prep work.

During the time you have it being prepped, any number of contaminates
trapped moisture, reactive chemistry, can be present in your work.

If they are worth their dust, they would suggest their own
prep.
Just copping out and pointing at the customer as the cause? It's bad form.
If that's all you want?
Have the paint store guys shoot it with cans.
You could have a big asphole on the side of it and tell everyone
anything you wanted, for years.
That can discredit and hurt credibility of well meaning professionals.
They do not want you to misunderstand.
They want a chance to give good advice.
They would just give you advice about what paint materials lead to what finish for you, from what is available nowadays.
Show room?
Were you alive then?
As far as fit and finish, that car is not known for being in any way special.
That is manufactured thought, by people who want to see the bright side. And increase its sale price.
Historically, it was like a milestone, for styling. For them.
Look at the falcons that hide within it.
Wearing that outer styling increased sales, sure, but it was deemed a cute falcon. By its makers upper management.
Paint is completely different nowadays for several reasons, and a body shop advisor can help, explain, estimate.
After you find a buyer?
Look some at T-birds from 50's and 60's.
if you know how, you can fix their issues and have real beauty
in your barn.